Driving video..

[KeithTurk]

Re: Driving video..

DG.... I agree totally.... it's all about awareness....

You were in one of the 3% area's that accidents happen... literally only 3% happen from behind..... ( at least To motorcycles )....

My gig is maybe one of us will be more careful... just that one time....

K

[98ciHemi]

Re: Driving video..

The scariest day of my life was when my sister got in a head on collision while talking on her cell phone. Distracted and drunk are equally bad in my book.

[BangShift McT]

Re: Driving video..

That plays back some of my worse images from my life. Nothing, but nothing, scares you worse than the impact you never saw coming. I got very lucky...the driver-rear door of the Intrepid I was driving was shoved in almost to the console. I was perfectly fine.

Thanks for posting, Keith.

[pdub]

Re: Driving video..

A stirring video in the right way to me Keith, Keith. I had to watch it all - the images, and yes, the haunting music.

And you are so right about just watching the folks around you in traffic. Not everybody even does that, ahead and behind and to the sides. And at intersections, particularly. I might get run over in the morning, but by golly I look around.

After I got over the stupid street racing phase (out in the comparative middle of nowhere, thank goodness), I've always driven like an old preacher. When I was in high school the drivers' ed teacher made a point with me that stuck. He said, "There's a whole lot of dead people who had the right-of-way." So if I'm in the pole position at a red light, just bacause green lights up, that doesn't mean go. That means LOOK and make sure everybody else is slowing to a stop.

Still, the best efforts are not enough to prevent some of the stuff depicted in the video - like a real idiot on the loose who pulls out to pass at an impossible spot and you happen to be coming the other direction.

When we lived in South Carolina, an 85-year-old lady decided to pass one of our neighbors on a road near our house. A slight hill and a pretty sharp curve. Double yellows. What was she thinking? Well, she just wasn't. Or couldn't, at her age. She hit another car head on. In that other car was somebody's wife and four kids. Two of hers, and two of her neighbor's kids. She was bringing them all home from school.

Killed everybody in the other car. And there lays Granny in the hospital saying "I wish it had been me instead of them."

Where are the laws when you need them? Either too old or too stupid (either way) to be driving. But those laws are a long way off. And that wreck was long before cell phones even existed. As said here, slam drunk and cell phoning (goodness even not to THINK about texting) make for the same driver. I've seen it too many times. All the time. Every freakin' day.

End of passionate rant. Great video Keith. I hope your "gig" does touch at least one person.

[Pumpkin]

Re: Driving video..

Sensual awareness is the key here.

[DanStokes]

Re: Driving video..

I watched a bit but there's too much sadness in my life right now to watch it all. Still, you're right, of course.

Interesting study was performed a while back. I wish I had more specifics but I don't (I suppose one could go on line and find it). Basically, the study put folks in a driving simulator (a good one, that acts and feels like a car) and played real-life traffic scenarios to the people being tested. There were situations where a ball came out into the street followed by a kid - that sort of thing. Virtually all of the drivers handled it fine. Then they put the driver's own cell phone in their hands, called them, and repeated the experiment. Believe it or not, 2% were capable of handling the same situations. Hands-free - the same 2% - no difference. Turns out that this was the same 2% that the military looks for to turn into fighter pilots. Percent who could text and drive - 0%.

So bottom line - no, you can't. No one can.

I may have told this story here before but I think this is the time to bring it up again.

Dan

[oldsman71]

Re: Driving video..

wow that was rough! :o

makes you think!

[pdub]

Re: Driving video..

Well, it's only my case, and only about me, but Pumpkin should be able to attest to the fact that I sure can't talk on the phone and drive.

He called me during our trip to the hotrod thing in Bowling Green, to ask where I was. I was at an interchange in Nashville. While I was holding the phone I went south instead of north on 65, and didn't even realize it until a few miles later.

No, I can't talk and drive. I know I can't. So many people can, maybe, but I know for sure I can't. And so many people can't who think they can.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Driving video..

God Damn Keith, you sure know how to find them, very poignant.

I guess this would be the appropriate place to say today is exactly two years ago my brother died in a roll over accident on a curvy mountain road. He was the passenger, buckled in, rolled onto the passenger side, crushing his head and dismembering his right arm among other things. Alcohol was a likely factor and speed was a definate factor. Sobering reminder.

John Jacob Burns April 3, 1983 - July 21, 2008.

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Driving video..

Randal, having heard you talk of your brother, I know you remember him fondly. He certainly seems like a dude I would have wanted to raise hell with. Has to be a tough day for you.

That is one hell of an impactful video Turk.

Brian

[70chevyC-10]

Re: Driving video..

Rest in Peace J.J.B.

[oldsman71]

Re: Driving video..

God Damn Keith, you sure know how to find them, very poignant.

I guess this would be the appropriate place to say today is exactly two years ago my brother died in a roll over accident on a curvy mountain road. He was the passenger, buckled in, rolled onto the passenger side, crushing his head and dismembering his right arm among other things. Alcohol was a likely factor and speed was a definate factor. Sobering reminder.

John Jacob Burns April 3, 1983 - July 21, 2008.

Randal Im so sorry to hear about your brother! I drove up on a bad accident a while back, the helicopter
was blocking the road and a young fireman was just standing with a blank look on his face looking towards
the wreck he told me it was "just horrible" I just backed up, and went back were I came from.
thanks for the video, it should be shown TWICE in every drivers education class!!

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Driving video..

[Hi-Jack]
Thanks guys. It's amazing how quickly two years go by... One of the many friends of my Brother is a graphics designer and makes business cards and such and he made this post card for the anniversary to hand out. The backside tell you to try something new every July 21st as my brother did A LOT of things in a very short amount of time. Backpacked Australia, worked as a pearl diver, worked at a porn expo (in Australia), ran with the bulls, did that tomato fest thing a couple times in Spain, went to two Oktoberfest in Germany and two of the Dutch equivalency (Roskell festival?), spent 3 months in prison in Copenhagen, Denmark uncharged with a crime and eventually let go, spent time in the UK, worked at the mine here in Ely, was a police cadet for a few years in college, these are just kind of the tips of the iceberg, he kept journals and was writing a book. The shear number of people that he left an impression on is incredible. He was in Skopje, Macedonia backpacking/hitchhiking his way to Russia when he met his untimely end. My trip to Germany in May was to go to the wedding of his German girlfriend's sister (in his place so to speak). No shortage of stories for sure.



Based on this picture at the Grand Canyon, AZ.


And trust me when I say that no one in our family can't help but see that "big shit-eat'in grin" (as my Dad calls it :D) everytime we think about him, we just can't help but smile and think of the good times and stories.

[\Hi-Jack]

[DanStokes]

Re: Driving video..

That's a beautiful hijack - and welcome any time as far as I'm concerned. Right on target for the tread, too. Being plenty old enough to be his Dad I can say that that beautiful boy was stolen way too early.

As ME would say - "Peace for this day"

Dan

[70chevyC-10]

Re: Driving video..

What an adventurer to do all those things in 25 years, amazing.